TDOT signs to update road deaths on Fridays

Jan. 4, 2013

The Tennessee Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that it will display fatality messages on a weekly basis rather than daily.

TDOT will now display the fatality numbers on its overhead message signs on Fridays. The messages first went on display in April 2012, after an increase in traffic-related fatalities during the first quarter of the year.

“We feel the fatality messages have been extremely successful in increasing awareness about highway deaths across the state this year, and may have helped us stop the dramatic increase we saw early in 2012,” said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer, in the news release.

TDOT said while the messages have caused controversy, they have garnered mostly praise, citing a Franklin man’s recent email claiming the signs had made an impact on him and his friends to start wearing their seat belts.

TDOT added they will continue to run safety messages targeted at specific issues such as texting while driving, drowsy driving and driving under the influence.